VOA常速英语2008年-Candidates Compete for Delegates From Heartland

By Greg Flakus
Chicago
04 February 2008

In the central part of the United States, presidential candidates from both parties are competing for delegates in states where polls show close contests. VOA's Greg Flakus has more on the story from Chicago.

In the central states there are only a few real battlegrounds, but the candidates are fighting hard for every delegate.

On the Democratic side, New York Senator Hillary Clinton has maintained a commanding lead in most states until recently. Polls taken after the January 26 South Carolina primary, which was won overwhelmingly by Illinois Senator Barack Obama, show him erasing¹ much of Clinton's lead in many states.

Missouri could be a close call, even though the latest polls show Clinton well in the lead. Obama is now favored in Minnesota and is surging in smaller states like Kansas and North Dakota. Obama's mother was from Kansas and the state's popular two-term Democratic governor, Kathleen Sebellius has endorsed² him.

The biggest prize in the heartland is Illinois, with its 185 delegates. Obama has a commanding lead in the state he represents in the Senate, although Clinton, who was born here, has pockets of strength in some Chicago suburbs.

In the Republican contest in Illinois, polls favor Senator John McCain, but former Massachusetts Governor Mitt³ Romney has made an all-out effort here, trying to rouse conservatives against McCain for his immigration reform bill and his opposition⁴ to tax cuts.

"Do we want to have a person lead our party and be our nominee⁵ who voted against the Bush tax cuts," asked Mitt Romney.

Romney is supported by former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, an Illinois congressman⁶, who says McCain could never be counted on to support his party's policies in Congress.

But McCain has also been on the campaign trail here, defending his record, his conservatism and his loyalty⁷ to a Republican Party that he says has lost its way.

"We know why we lost the 2006 election, because we let spending get completely out of control," said John McCain. "Well, I am going to veto every pork barrel bill that comes across my desk."

Analysts⁸ say McCain could lock up his party's nomination⁹ with a big win on Super Tuesday and that Romney will need wins in at least a few major contests to remain viable¹⁰.

The outcome of the primaries and caucuses¹¹ held in the heartland may depend on rules established in each state and by each party as to how delegates are designated.

In Missouri's Republican race, for example, all 58 delegates go to the statewide winner. On the Democratic side, however, there are 88 delegates, 72 of which are allocated¹² proportionally to candidates based on a formula that includes outcome in the state's nine congressional districts and the statewide vote. The state also sends 16 un-pledged delegates to the convention.

In both Tennessee and North Dakota, all Republican delegates are awarded to the candidate who can win two thirds of the vote, but are awarded proportionally if no candidate achieves that percentage. Colorado holds caucuses, but sends 46 un-pledged delegates to the Republican convention. Democrats¹³ in that state award 55 delegates based on proportion of the vote won by each candidate and also send 16 un-pledged delegates to their convention.

1 erasing   

v.擦掉( erase的现在分词 )；抹去；清除

参考例句：

• He was like a sponge, erasing the past, soaking up the future. 他象一块海绵，挤出过去，吸进未来。 来自辞典例句
• Suddenly, fear overtook longing, erasing memories. 突然，恐惧淹没了渴望，泯灭了回忆。 来自辞典例句

2 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 mitt   

n.棒球手套，拳击手套，无指手套；vt.铐住，握手

参考例句：

• I gave him a baseball mitt for his birthday.为祝贺他的生日，我送给他一只棒球手套。
• Tom squeezed a mitt and a glove into the bag.汤姆把棒球手套和手套都塞进袋子里。

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

6 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

7 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

8 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

9 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

10 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

11 caucuses   

n.（政党决定政策或推举竞选人的）核心成员( caucus的名词复数 )；决策干部；决策委员会；秘密会议

参考例句：

• Republican caucuses will happen in about 410 towns across Maine. 共和党团会议选举将在缅因州的约410个城镇进行。 来自互联网

12 allocated   

adj. 分配的 动词allocate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The Ford Foundation allocated millions of dollars for cancer research. 福特基金会拨款数百万美元用于癌症研究。
• More funds will now be allocated to charitable organizations. 现在会拨更多的资金给慈善组织。

13 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》